Megan Bostic's Blog, page 17

30 days of thanks: day 13

I'm thankful for my readers. I thank everyone that showed up at my Dissected launch party last night. I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I know there were others that wanted to be there but had to work, or were sick, but I know they were there in spirit.

I was so nervous, there was so much I forgot that I wanted to say. I wanted to say, that writing what I write, the hard stuff, the people with flaws, with issues...I write it because I'm drawn to it, because it resonates with me. The people in my books - I know them. In many ways I am them.

I also wanted to tell them that if you read the book and if you like the book, consider taking the time to review it on Amazon. Not just my book, but any book of any author that maybe someone hasn't heard of, because it does help. If we get a number of reviews, Amazon might move us to a certain list, or section that might give us a little more promotion.

Also, if you like it, tell a friend.

Okay enough about that and back to my readers. I started writing because I love to do it. It's a form of therapy, a copying mechanism, not unlike my characters Sydney's decision to cut. But since getting published, I realize how important my readers are to me. To inspire them or to give them a story or character to connect with, that makes me feel good.

Here are just a couple tidbits of messages I've received from people who've read my work:

"...i felt like i had a sense of enlightenment and it made me want to be a better person..."

"My younger daughter died of osteosarcoma (a bone cancer) in Dec 2007; she was sixteen.  She would have had so much in common with Austin.  Her courage continues to inspire me and while I will never get over her loss, I have made it through.  Thank you for giving teens with cancer a voice."

"...Never Eighteen changed my entire outlook on life. Thank you so much for writing this wonderful book. ...Thank you again for this amazing contribution to the literature world!"

Just a few, but you get the point. Messages like these make me feel amazing and want me to keep doing what I'm doing.

So, thank you readers for inspiring me and motivating me to keep going.

Happy Wednesday!

30 days of thanks: Day 12

Today I'm thankful for books. Books that showed up at my door yesterday. Yep. So I could have a release party tonight.

Of course, not only those books, but books in general. I love reading books. My mother instilled the love of reading in me. I've been reading since I could, devouring Dr. Seuss, Donald J. Sobol, Judy Blume, then on to S.E. Hinton, then Stephen King, J.R.R. Tolkein, Ray Bradbury. I even enjoy some Shakespeare from time to time. Those are authors whose books (and plays)  I've read a lot. 

Some favorite books:
Handmaid's Tale by Margaret AtwoodThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel HawthorneThe Crucible by Arthur MillerTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeLord of the Flies by William GoldingOf Mice and Men by John SteinbeckThe Jungle by Upton SinclairInterview with a Vampire by Anne Rice.
More contemporary novels I've liked have been:
 The Beet Queen by Louise ErdrichFried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie FlaggThe World According to Garp John IrvingShe's Come Undone by Wally LambMystic River by Dennis Lehane (I also enjoyed his McKenzie series)Red Dragon & Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris (never read Hannibal)Geek Love by Katherine Dunn
When it comes to Young Adult fiction, some of my favorites are:
The Wicked and the Just by J Anderson CoatsLiving Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott13 Reasons Why by Jay AsherThe Pull of Gravity by Gae PolisnerBreaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw WolfStupid Fast by Geoff HerbachLove & Leftovers by Sarah TregayPopular by Alissa TregayXVI by Julia KarrDivergent by Veronica Roth (I can't wait to read the rest of the series)The Hunger Games series by Suzanne CollinsThe Harry Potter series by J.K. RowlingTruly, I could go on and on all day. And if you're looking for recommendations from me, note, that aside from a few of these books, I read very much like I write, books that tackle tough subject matters. The stories aren't always pretty and there aren't always happily ever afters.

Are there any books you are thankful are in the world?

If you're in the Tacoma area, don't forget about my book signing tonight at Garfield Book Company at 7 pm.

30 Days of Giving Thanks: Day 11

I just realized I'm not really giving 30 days of thanks because I'm not blogging on weekends. Oh well. I do digress...

Anyway, today I'm thankful for all those who have put their life on the lines for our freedom, those who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces.

Now, I'm in no way a staunch supporter of wars. I'm totally into peace, but I know there is a time and place to fight for our rights and the rights of those who cannot stand up for themselves, and I know that freedom comes at a cost and I appreciate those who are brave enough to stand up for those freedoms.

I would never have the balls to go into the military. I don't think I'd survive basic training let alone actually have what it takes to go to the front lines of a war torn country. I know people who have been and come back, those who have lost friends and family and even if they don't lose a life, some sacrifice has always been made, whether it be to mind, body, or spirit.

So, men and women of our armed forces, thank you. I'm grateful that you have the courage to stand up and fight for my freedoms.

To those who have served, happy Veterans Day.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 8

Today I'm finding it hard to be thankful. I know. Seriously, I'm a glass half empty kind of gal. I can't help it. Just when I thought my book problems were solved for my release party, um, they suddenly weren't. No idea what's happening now. If I'll have books or even a party. I'm a lot panicked and stressed and a little devastated.

So, thankful...hmmmm...

Going to have to put this on hold for a bit...

(5 hours later)
 
...okay, I had another book crisis. I thought I had books coming for my release party. Then I didn't. then I did. Then I didn't again. Now apparently I do again. Sheesh. Can you say ulcer?

So, I'm thankful for the people who really try to make things work for others. Like Jennifer at Lightning Source who I called in a panic on Monday because I was pretty sure there was something messed up on my order, which turned out to be right, and I wasn't getting my books on time. Then who fixed it so that I could upgrade to expedited shipping to get my books by Monday.

Then again with Sandra who I had to call today when I found out my books went out UPS ground and they weren't going to get here until Thursday, when my party is on Tuesday. She went back to talk to the people I'd already talked to to find out what happened.

And then for Ryan, who helped fix everything, and since my books had already gone out, put another rush, expedited order in at no charge so I would at least get two cases of books by Monday.

Yeah, I'm thankful for those kind of people. The people in customer service who have to deal with people like me who panic and cry. And those ones who have to deal with people that yell and scream and cuss at them. I used to have to do that when I worked at the licensing department. I didn't like that job. Nope, not one bit.

I feel for those people, anyone who works with the general public, they don't have it easy. It's why I always tip well, because I know for every 20% I give, there's going to be some asshole that tips 10%.

There it is, and here are the Friday Scribbles...

Pandora Queue Song: Pitter Pat by Erin McCarley

 















Book and Netflix of the Week: I'm going to let you tell me. I've been so busy I've neither read no watched ANYTHING for a couple weeks now aside from football and Walking Dead. What are you watching/reading?

Quote of the Week:

 

Have a great Friday and a better weekend. Even if it's hard, find something to be thankful for every single day.

Thirty days of thanks: Day 7

I'm thankful for the internet.

Scoff if you will, but the interwebs is truly a wonderful thing, I mean, after all, you wouldn't be able to read this, if not for the web, yes?

I also truly am thankful for the internet during the holiday season because I can avoid the mall and shop from my home. I loathe the mall.

Without the internet I would not have been able to enter the ABNA contest therefore would not have met all the wonderful writer I've become and stayed friends with the last five to six years.

There would never have been Facebook where I reconnected with friends from high school and junior high that I now see from time to time.

I can also stalk people without them knowing...check out their pictures, posts, try to find out where they live. Just kidding, but seriously, it's so easy to share photos and information with friends and family. No calling, no snail mail. I know some people think this detaches us from one another, but I still talk to people (sometimes, when I want and when they don't annoy the hell out of me), the internet just makes things more efficient.

So there you have it.  Without the internet I would be an inefficient, lonely recluse.

OMG It's November and I've not been Thankful ONCE!

Okay, in my usual cold, dead little heart I'm sure I have once, but usually I will blog about it (I think, don't I? Who knows at this point).

So today I will play catch up and blog about 6 things I am thankful for.

6. My health - Okay, maybe I'm tired all the time and maybe I'm batshit crazy, but I have all my limbs and they work properly. I can see and hear and speak. It is my job to keep this body healthy to the best of my ability.

5. My job - Here I mean my day job. I work for a law firm. I do most of their marketing, which includes their social networking, print ads, offline networking, website, blogging, etc, etc, etc. It never ends. I enjoy the work I do, I'm paid well, and we have added benefits at our job that I know other people don't get elsewhere. Plus, I work part time and can still pay my bills, and this still allows me the time to write and market my books.

4. My writing - Oh lord, where would I be without this. Those of you who have been reading my blog for some time know that I've been through some rough patches. I'm not shy about my experiences in life. I share them in the hopes maybe they can help someone else. During those times I've felt desolate and detached from the entire world, I had this. My writing has helped me grieve through losses, make my way through darkness, and give me an outlet when I've needed it.

I thought we were supposed to do the duck face.3. My friends - These bitches. Some of these people know things worthy of blackmail and I hope they never use it against me. I have friends from high school, writing friends, work friends, friends I've reconnected with on Facebook from junior high, friends I've met through Facebook, I also include my siblings in this...it's cray cray...
My bestie
Work friends on a scavenger hunt. Writing friends My sisters and brother Gae Polisner, awesome writing friend My two besties
2. My parents - What these two have done for me...oy. I cannot even begin to explain. Let's just say, I owe them everything.



1. My daughters - Yeah, so maybe there is a toothbrush on my bannister and a pair of dirty socks in my car. Perhaps I have to clean up their dirty dishes on a daily basis, tell them to be quiet when I'm trying to sleep, and nag them to clean their rooms. But they're good kids. They stay out of trouble. The treat people with respect. They treat me with respect. They work at their grades and work hard at what they love, for one it's soccer, the other, music. Without them I would be lost. They are my light.
















So, tell me...what are you thankful for?

Little bits of happy

Yesterday I blogged about crappy stuff. Yeah, I had a crappy day. But last night was bliss. Last night I went to my daughter's last regular season soccer game of her high school life. It was cold and a little drizzly. We had to be there early because it was senior night. The team gives all the senior girls flowers and they announce their future plans, where they want to go to school and the parents get to go down on the field with them...it's really cool. You can probably tell I look blissfully happy in the pic to the left (that's her dad, my ex on her other side).

This team they played was undefeated. When we'd played them before, we lost 1-0.

I'll tell you what, the refs weren't kind. They were calling us for every little thing, BAD calls. Some of them, we had no idea what the hell they were. Yet, the other team was knocking our girls around left and right, pushing them down from behind, elbowing them in the side, hitting them in the gut, and they got no calls whatsoever. 

Needless to say, they pulled ahead of us 1-0 just before the half.

You could tell our team was angry and frustrated, but it looked like they settled things down at half time. They were working better as a team, making better passes. They looked really good. At about the 70 minute mark, my daughter scored to tie it up.

The battled continued and it was a hard one. Bodies were flying all over the field, penalties were called, it was hard to score. The game was moving fast, as we wanted to beat the undefeated team and they wanted to keep their untarnished record. But at 80 minutes, right before the game ending whistle blew, my daughter dribbled the ball close the goal, bringing the goalie out just a bit, and took a shot. She made it bringing the score 2-1 as everyone ran off the field and the scoreboard went blank. 

It was like a movie and was the perfect end to a miserable day.

2013 Wilson High School senior girls soccer players

Curve balls, mistakes and soul sucking teens

Today is definitely a Monday. Yes a Monday.

In the last couple weeks I have had very dramatic ups and downs. I'm not talking speed bumps, I'm talking hills and valleys.  Steep climbs of elation and big drops of disappointments, annoyances, worry and facing things that are unknown.

The good: I've written quite a bit the last couple days and it's felt good.

The ugly: I realized I wasn't going to get my books in time for my release party (apparently there was an oversight on my part at Lightning Source, an approval I thought I'd done, which I hadn't) so I had to pay up the yin yang for expedited shipping.

The good: I went to the Seahawks game yesterday and it was a beautiful day and fun and I had a great time with family and friends.

The ugly: I have an issue with my car (totally  my stupid fault that I'm not going into) that's going to cost me money.

The good: My kids and I, aside from cleaning issues, are great.

The ugly: I was tagged by two teen in another state on Twitter, and when I jokingly said something about them making fun of an old lady, I mean, I am a teen writer, I thought I would try to engage. I was told to "fuck off" by one, then asked if I send nudes by the other. Um, dudes, you tagged me. Sooo, instead of dealing with that any more, I just blocked them.

The good: I finally got a decent amount of sleep last night, and I didn't even care
that I slept through the Walking Dead to get it.

The ugly: Relationships in my life, well, let's just say they're not easy.

My life is chaotic, I get that. Some of it I create, I know this. It's like I can't function without some amount of drama in my life, but some of this crap falls in my lap, unexpectedly.

I know I'm not mother of the year. I know I could be a better all around person. I have too many vices, my schedule is too busy, my house is cluttered, but I try the best I can and I volunteer my time and donate to charitable works. I try not to miss a soccer game or a music gig if I can help it and I always try to help my parents, family and friends out when they need me.

I guess I'm not really asking for anything in return, I already have much. I still have my parents. I have two healthy kids. I get along with my ex. People like my writing (I mean, some people hate it too but more people like it, so there's that). I have good friends, great family, clothes on my back, a roof over my head, a car to drive  (once I get my tire fixed).

I guess this is just one of my ranty venting blogs when I'm stressed out and you are my sounding board.

And those parent's of those boys on Twitter...they should have taught them better manners and to respect their elders. I mean, really...nude pictures...

F³A: Random Friday Thought Train

These are the thoughts I've had since waking up this morning...
 Shit, I forgot to plug my phone in last night.OMG How can it be November?Can you have a book release party without books? That guy hasn't really given me a straight answer about my books.I need to order cookies. Will I be able to finish NaNoWriMo this year?I have a book gig tomorrow, I have a book gig tomorrow, I have a book gig tomorrow, please don't forget...Bookscan: WTF?I should have screen shotted that #74 in whatever the hell list my book was on. I should screen shot the thing where it says Never Eighteen is often purchased with Eleanor & Park and The Fault in Our Stars.I should read The Fault in Our Stars next.Not as many trick or treaters this year and why all the bananas? Too many full sized candy bars left. ugh.Yahoo WTF?I need to migrate everything to my new email account. Ugh. I need to mail stuff.People shouldn't have to work on Fridays. Every weekend should be a three day weekend. I think people would be way more productive. I hate busy weekends.I'm tired.At least it's Friday.

There you have it .

So, what are you up to this weekend? Like I said, I have a book gig. I'm on a young adult panel at Northwest Bookfest tomorrow morning with fellow authors J. Anderson Coats, Kristin Halbrook and Cyndi Tefft. Right after that I'm headed to coach a soccer game. My teen girls team is 6-1. They rock!! Sunday I'm headed to the Seahawks game. GO HAWKS!!

Now for my Friday Scribbles...

Pandora Queue Song: Radioactive, Imagine Dragons. It was the iTunes Sessions version, so I went with an acoustic version.
 
Book of the Week: I haven't started a new book this week. So, um, I'm staring at my monstrous bookcase...hey, I know, since I mentioned John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, let's go with that. Now I'm debating...that or Insurgent to start this week...

Netflix of the Week: I've also watched nothing...my brother suggested Fringe, maybe I'll try that if I get bored this weekend.

Quote of the Week: “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” ~ Plutarch

Anti-Bully Project

If you didn't know, October was Bully Prevention Month. I wrote a guest post for the Anti-Bully Project a few days ago, titled Keeping Our Kids Free From the Collective Mind. It can be read here. There have been guest posts all month to raise awareness about bullying and to help put an end to it.

Along with my post (and many others), authors have donated items to give away. I'm donating a copy of my forthcoming book, Dissected and a swag pack. If you follow the above link, you can also find out how to enter the contest.

If you've been bullied and are looking for help, visit the resource page at the Anti-Bully Project for a list of website that want to help.

If you want to find out how to do your part in the fight against bullying, you can visit:

The National Bullying Prevention Center
Stop Bullying Government Site
Stomp Out Bullying